Farewell, Clare Farnsworth

by abender20 on Mar 17, 2009 8:45 AM PDT

I'd be remiss if I let this story go without at least a mention: With the P-I switching to an exclusively electronic format, Clare Farnsworth is on his way out. While he will likely be back in some other format, his time at the P-I has come to an end. As a Spokanite, I grew up listening to Clare's reports from Cheney throughout Traning Camp. He always had an interesting story or two from inside the locker room and covered the team as well as any other beat writer. I hope he resurfaces somewhere soon, as Seahawks coverage will not be as good without him.

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He's got the voice for Radio

710’s ESPN affiliate might make sense. If that afforded him — if they paid him — to also continue beat reporting, that would do wonders.

I’m not missing the end of the print edition of the PI, though. Keep up with technology! Paying for top journalism, including both reporting/investigation and writing, would keep the distinction between any online-only former paper and your average blog. FG notwithstanding…. : ) I’m pretty confident that’s what will come of other premier papers, NYT probably the last to fall if ever, as their printed distribution is nationwide. Disappointing for Hearst to not retain a sports beat pool.

But ultimately, people come to trusted places like here, for analysis, not for prime coverage. The papers became what they became, were built off of prime coverage. Who cares if the delivery format is different? Premier journalism might be biting its nails right now but in the end will continue as a viable career, getting paid to be the best regardless of delivery format, and people will read them more than startups and random blogs that provide neither prime coverage nor astute analysis.

by jacobstevens on Mar 17, 2009 9:30 AM PDT reply actions

Clare Farnsworth, one of the best!!

Great job Clare and thanks for all the good reporting you gave us over the years. Let us know where you land, your profession needs good men like you.

by JoshManRock on Mar 17, 2009 10:07 AM PDT reply actions

R.I.P, Seattle PI.

What I want to know is how the hell Art Thiel was retained over both Farnsworth and Jim Moore.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Mar 17, 2009 10:30 AM PDT reply actions

Art Thiel is a fantastic sports journalist.

by BrianL on Mar 17, 2009 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

But Moore provided laughs and Clare is an icon! An icon damnit.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Mar 17, 2009 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions

Losing the PI is a shame.

Not only has Seattle lost an important part of its history, but it’s lost an avenue for investigative journalism that will likely never be replaced.

I hope Clare and the rest of the PI staff can land on their feet. I hear that new sports radio station in Seattle is hiring.

by BrianL on Mar 17, 2009 11:16 AM PDT reply actions

Agreed.

It’s a shame Seattle won’t be a dual-newspaper city anymore.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Mar 17, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions

when it comes to sports

Hopefully we’ll stay a dual-newspaper region. The TNT’s ‘Hawks coverage finally seems to be in good hands now, and they’re much more active on the blogging front.

When it comes to city-wide issues & investigative journalism, the Times won’t have the competition of the PI pushing it anymore. And the TNT will continue to focus on the South Sound stuff. But for the major regional stories, and the sports teams, hopefully the TNT and Times will provide competition to each other in those areas.

And I’m definitely hoping Clare lands somewhere – KJR, the new ESPN station, a blog, or even the TNT. He’s been covering the ‘hawks for as long as I’ve been a fan, and I’ve always liked his stuff.

by jteckmann on Mar 17, 2009 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Clare

Is one of my all-time favorites. My family subscribed to the Times when I was a kid so I didn’t get to read his stuff, but then I went to one of those journalism days at UW and I made sure to attend the sportswriting seminar he was leading. I think I learned more about sportswriting in that half hour or so than I did in my entire high school journalism class. I ended up as the sports editor for our school paper and also did some freelance writing for a local weekly paper (a paid gig as a high school student!) and I can point right back to Clare as the one guy who got me excited about writing about sports, especially football.

Also, in addition to the stuff people have already said, he’s been great over the years at answering personal emails about the team or his job or whatever. If you ask him a good question, he’ll take the time to answer it for you.

Anyway, cool dude and I hope for our (the fans’) sake that he ends up covering the Seahawks for somebody. If not, I’m sure he’ll land on his feet doing something he loves!

by busplunger on Mar 17, 2009 1:00 PM PDT reply actions